Although I do feel we need to keep pressure on our electeds, I do wonder how we expect our Democratic Senators to work miracles when we essentially have a 50/50 split Congress. It is really easy to say these things. But when navigating the maze of Congressional procedures while the media is still controlled by right wing nuts, the Presidency is trying to exert dictatorial powers and the Senate is split (and some House Dems are from very conservative districts, like our new electeds from Indiana, good people but Conservative Dems representing Conservative Dems) things are a little tougher. Personally I was impressed with the first 100 days. The nature of the debate changed thanks to some careful actions by the Dems, putting the Repubs on the defensive. We didn't really show much appreciation for that did we?

So, while I endorse the general thrust of the letter, I am not sure it is effective or reasonable to sound the same notes over and over. Or maybe it is as long as we ALSO realize and acknowledge that it WAS a new day when we took control and some things really have accomplished some real changes that affect working class Americans.

Good for you Dan. Last year I stopped supporting the DCCC and the DSCC because of their refusal to support Steve Harrison in his campaign to unseat Vito Fossella. Had the DCCC come through with money and support we would have beaten Fossella. Their way of supporting candidates is terrible and they didn't do anything despite our pleas to assistance.

Their lack of backbone on the matters you state is also a bother to me and to others. True, they didn't win in 2006, the Republicans lost but they have to listen to what was said and what the people who elected them want yet they still are afraid of opening their mouths and voting against this administration. My greatest fear is that there will be another change on the Supreme Court before the end of this administration and they'll bend to Bush's nominee then his legacy will be sealed and God help our country.

The problem is not that the Democratic party is not now and never was monolithic. The problem is that Democratic leadership isn't leading. Sure, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid occastionally make strong statements, but they don't actually DO anything.

In the weeks leading up to last fall's election, I wrote several letters to Democratic leaders, both in office and in the party, urging them to fashion a real agenda. And while Nancy Pelosi had already been putting together her "six-point plan" for "draining the swamp" and other measures, it was not a true agenda.

Furthermore, once in office, Pelosi proved just as corrupt as the Republicans. For example, H.R. 2, raising the minimum wage, contained an exception for the Northern Mariana Islands. Why? Because they do a lot of tuna fishing theer, and the big tuna canning plant is in Pelosi's district. And don't forget her committee appointments, which she managed about as badly as she possibly could.

Since then, Alberto Gonzalez has claimed that there is no constitutional right to habeas corpus for any of us, and nobody is forcing that issue. Instead, they go after the firing of prosecutors, which may yield some fruit, but won't solve any problems. Where is the swamp being drained?

"But Americans are tired of partisanship." Crap! John Kerry was told that Americans were tired of negative campaigning; he believed it, and he lost the election. We need Democratic leadership to show some spine! We need to see some real solutions coming out of Democratic caucuses.

I do have a few specific ideas. (Full disclosure -- I'm tooting my own horn here.) On my website, there are two columns written this past March that outline some ideas. They are #147, "Take Charge," and #148, "If This Be Partisan." Feel free to comment on them, or come up with ideas of your own. Perhaps if we can fashion a policy among ourselves, despite our natural contentiousness, we can push that policy in Washington.

Wouldn't that be a boon for the grass roots?

I noticed that it only cost DSCC 9 cents to mail it as a "non-profit." Does anyone else think that's a little weird?

I didn't think political parties or campaigns could qualify for a discount on mailings as non-profit orgs.

I looked it up and USPS explicitly allows the DCCC, the DSCC and their evil republican counterparts to mail things at the non-profit rate.

I still think it's weird.

The USPS, while not officially a government institution any more, is under the thumb of government regulators. It stands to reason, therefore, that the people who run the government would make sure they get a break.

You find that the law creating the "do not call" list specifically exempts political campaigns as well.

Fortunately, while they only spend a small amount to mail each piece, they send out a lot of pieces. Giving them a piece of our minds, however, only costs each of us 41¢.